Click on picture for closer look.

The Madison Bead Show was last weekend and of course, I had to take a couple of classes.

Saturday my class was with Jackie Lincoln of
Long Canyon Jewelry. Jackie has a great ability to teach chainmaille so that even a left-handed person can understand it – I’m always the slowest one in the class unless there is another left-handed person and even then I’m generally behind.

This class was for making earrings and sure enough on the first one I was behind. I was still trying to get my first 3 rings together while everyone else was on rings 9,10 and 11. But I got it!!

Here’s a picture – not the best but it is a difficult earring to photograph. It cannot be laid down to photograph so….
After the grueling class I headed downstairs to take a look at all the goodies – and of course, I purchased a few things that were calling my name. I’ll talk about those at a later date – when I actually use the products!!

Please click on the picture for a closer view.

Well, it’s been a bit since I’ve posted anything. I’ve been working sporadically on things but my eyes have really bothered me in the last couple of weeks. I was kind of worried but already had an appointment coming up at the ophthalmologist. So I took a few days off of working to rest my eyes.

And off I went for my appointment – I always kind of worry about my eyes as I’ve been wearing glasses since I was about 7 or 8. I grew up in the country and went to a one room school house until 6th grade. I walked about a mile to school – whether it was raining or snowing or sunny. I remember one day instead of walking in the road in the winter I cut across the field through waist deep snow to get home and I was crying when I got home. My mom asked me what was wrong and I said I was chased by a monster. About that time, the road grader came by the house and fortunately my mom put 2 and 2 together and made an eye appointment. You know your eyes are bad when you can’t see a big yellow road grader!!

I was quite relieved to hear that stronger glasses would help. And when I showed the doctor my Romanov necklace he asked if I used a magnifier. Well, when I got home that day I ordered one from Kingsley North. It arrived on Friday but I couldn’t play with it until yesterday. So I made the bracelet pictured above.

I did learn something else that may be of interest to others – when you reach a ‘certain age’ – (somewhere in your fifties) your eyes take a lot longer to transition and focus from near to far. So if you’ve been sewing by hand or working on a model train engine or even beading – when you quit and look at something far away your eyes won’t focus correctly right away. Boy, do I feel better now! It’s not just me.

Please click on picture for closer view

I’ve always loved the look of filigree but never thought I would be able to come close to making anything that had a filigree look to it but boy, was I wrong!

This is one of the many chainmaille pattern that I’m currently hooked on. And it does resemble filigree. I can hardly wait to start working on a new one – not that I’m sure what I’ll do with the current one!

I made this bracelet in copper and patinated it – then I tumbled it for a while and came up with this lovely color – it has some shades of purple in it (one of my favorite colors!) along with a hint of green in the light.

If you would like me to make you one of these please go to the contact me page and let me know. I think my next one is going to be in sterling…. juego 7 card studjuego poker omaha gratislos mejores cuartos del pokercaribbean poker portales webpoker 5 cartaspai gow poker portales webdescarga de juego de pokerprograma pokerpoker multijugador gratisjugadas pokerjuegos de poker gratis,poker gratis pc,poker gratisjuegos poli pokerplay poker texas,play poker,play poker onlinejugar poker,jugar poker online gratis,jugar poker internetreglas poker juegojugar seven card stud gratisjuegos de poker para descargarfichas poquereuropean pokerdescargar juegos pokerjuegos dados poker7 card stud gratisjuegos polly pokerfull tilt pokerstip pokeraprender a jugar pokeraprender jugar pokerjuegos de poker onlinepoquer pcjuegos de cartas pokermaquinas pokerparadisepoker.com,paradise poker,paradisepokerpoker portales internetpai gow poker pagina webjuegos de poquerprogama codigo pokerpoquer gratispoker portal internetjuego poker eroticodescargas de juegos de pokerjugar poquer webpoker freejuego al instante paginas webstud pokerjuego poker pcomaha high pokerpoker gratis para pcjuego texas holdemjuego de poker onlinereglas juego poker

Please click on picture for closer look
I recently had the honor of making 3 sterling charm bracelets that will be used in a Charm Jewelry Drawing fund raiser that is officially sponsored by the Metal Clay community at large. The charm bracelets will have hand crafted metal clay charms added to them. The charms of fine (.999) sterling will be made and donated by Metal Clay artists across the United States. They will truly be unique, one of kind pieces of art.

The proceeds will be split between the American Cancer Society and The Marrow Foundation. The drawing will be July 20 2008 at the PMC Conference 2008 at Purdue University in Indiana. You may buy one ticket price for $5 or 5 for $20. When you purchase the ticket you will make the decision of which organization the money will go to.

Tonya Davidson of Whole Lotta Whimsy and Mary Ellin D’Agostino, PhD of MED’A Creations have graciously agreed to sell the tickets. Just click on the links and you will be taken to their sites. They will accept Credit Card, Paypal and international orders.

Please click on picture for larger picture.

This necklace has been a work in progress – I started it about a year ago but was never happy with it – not that I knew what was wrong with it but…
About a week ago, I was shopping at the
Bead Bin in Madison and ran across the hematite circles. I knew instantly that is what I needed for this necklace. The circles really show off the smaller recycled metal parts and the black onyx and hematite rounds.
It is always amazing to me that something that sat for so long waiting for that ‘unknown/unseen’ part could go together so quickly!
If you would like to purchase this work of art, please click on the Paypal button below. It is 69.00 and the shipping is free in the US. I package all my jewelry in nice gift boxes, just in case you’re not keeping it for yourself!

Please click on the pictures for a bigger view.

I’ve been researching the best way to clean copper jewelry. And it has been entertaining…
I’ve read about using ketchup, lemon juice, lemon juice and salt combined, Worcestershire sauce and a few other things that just sounded nasty.

I rummaged through my pile of the ‘not quite happy with it stash – better known as ‘What was I thinking?’ pile. I found a bracelet that I had made up while learning some things from Connie Fox’s tutorials. It has sat on my desk for over a year and I haven’t quite decided what to do with it yet but it was getting kind of grungy so it was a great learning tool. Lots of swirls and coils – things like that

I have Paul Revere copper bottom pots and pans that I used to keep nice and shiny in my cooking days and figured that maybe I could use this on the pots and pans if the experiment went well.

First I tried lemon juice in the bottom of a glass bowl – I really couldn’t see much happening so I added some salt and scrubbed a bit – nothing overly thrilling on that front. I had also read that salt used on copper corrodes it. Somewhere in my tiny brain, thoughts of soda surfaced so I got a different dish and poured new lemon juice in – then I laid the bracelet in the bottom of the juice and added some baking soda (reminder to self – get a bigger bowl next time!). That was the most effective so far. I let it set until the bubbling and foaming stopped and rubbed at it with my fingers. I liked it the best so far but still wasn’t really happy with it. I ran the bracelet under clear water. I debated on my next item to use — I like ketchup on my fries and I didn’t want to waste it on my jewelry so I didn’t try that. I did find some Worcestershire sauce in my cupboard so that was next. I laid the bracelet on my cutting board and poured some WS over it – rubbed it over the bracelet with my fingers to get a better coverage. Wow!! Shined it right up! Cleaned off the bracelet with some water and dried it with an old, soft dish towel. Turned out so shiny I think I’ll take it downstairs this afternoon and start working on it again.

Click on either picture for a bigger view.

Bamboo Jasper has become one of my favorite stones – unfortunately I’ve not been able to find any information about it – where is it mined, etc.
Late last summer I ordered about 20 strands of different shapes and sizes – then when I received it I couldn’t decide what to do with it! It sat on my desk and every day I’d look at it and wonder why? Why had I fallen in love with it? Why had I ordered so many strands of it? Why? Why? Why?

And then some pearls that I ordered came in and the light went on! Last fall I sold a fair amount of bracelets with bamboo jasper, pearls and khaki colored Swarovski crystals. Now I’m using it with copper – in the bracelet and earrings on this page. And it looks wonderful again!
I envision this bracelet on a nicely tanned arm but I’m sure you have other thoughts!

The copper in the bracelet is woven into the Box or Queen’s chainmaille design. I have to confess I didn’t make the rings on this bracelet - I did purchase them. I’ve not had time to do both lately so these are by Michelle of ChainWeavers. If you would like to purchase either the bracelet or earrings or both….. please contact me.

Click on pix for closer look.

I know this is knot the Notting Hill you were expecting to find at this link but I’m so excited that I’ve finally learned to knot pearls. The Hill part seems so fitting about learning to knot as it seemed to be worse than climbing a hill in snow pants and boots when you were a little kid!
After 5-6 months of asking questions, buying silk and shredding it, buying more silk and tying knots in the wrong spot, watching online tutorials, reading tutorials and directions – all I might add written for directed towards right handed people I finally sat down with someone at the Bead Bin in Madison and had a real person show me – a very patient young lady!!
Above is a picture – although not the best I’ve ever taken of a necklace that I finished yesterday. I’m so excited!! I’ve done 2 others – a beautiful bronzite that shimmers in the light and a pink/peach freshwater button pearl. On to my next one – I think this one will have Swarovski crystals in it!

In an the holiday excitement, I forgot to write about this — there was an article about local artists in local galleries written in the Janesville Gazette in December. You will have to scroll down about 4 or 5 pictures — there is a malachite necklace that I made. I wire wrapped the cabachon which I purchased from Chain of Events.

In my last post before Christmas I made reference to someone purchasing a Christmas gift for his wife and I promised a pix. Well, here it is! I’m sure I’ve written about the lady who made these beads before but it works beautifully against a nice purple sweater.

I also have been working on my 2008 schedule and think I have it about ready to go. I’ve been polling my friends on a couple of decisions about wording things and will have my schedule ready to print shortly. It’s been a busy month already and I’m only at the middle of the month. I’ve purchased business insurance, signed up for a class on business plans and marketing, signed up for a chainmaille class, figured out my 2007 inventory figures (and that’s scary!), and sat down and wrote out my goals for 2008. I think I’m going to print it and put it in front of my computer so when I’m sitting there procrastinating on my bookwork I can keep an eye on it!